Meeting the prince (Azar's POV)

I walk into one of the castle's empty rooms with Ivette.

My chest warms at sight of the girl – my pride and joy. The girl whom I love above all the else in the world. For her, I would do anything, even burn this damn kingdom with everyone in it. For her, I will kill my liberator's brother, his hag of the wife and all of his spawn. For her, I will win this kingdom.

I frown a little at her smile when she sees the prince. I have thought her all of my skills, but she lacks experience. That with her infatuation of the prince might cost her dearly. I will have to train her further...

“I have good news” I turn my attention to the prince. “I have managed to secure a safe house for you.”

I brightened at that. A safe place for us, should the things go sour with the Queen – it couldn't happen at a better time! Good boy, I will have to reward him... it's a pity that I don't have a time. Meeting with Lord Thrall is vital to us.

“That's great news! When can we move in?” Ivette asks.

“As soon as tomorrow.” the prince replies.

I hug my daughter and speak to her, failing to hide my excitement.

“Make your preparations dear – I will meet you in the morning.”

I smile and release her from the hug, but still hold her arms. My little girl nods and hugs me back, and I melt at the feeling of her love. I can't help but smile as the girl leaves the room.

“Do you intend to reward me for the entire night...?” the prince asks.

I look straight into his eyes.

'Ah, here it is. The small immature boy who can think only about pleasure. So easy...'

I smile and cup his cheek. I can see that his face reddens as the smell of my perfumes hits him and his eyes start roaming over my body.

“Alas, I already have set up a meeting with a friend – a servant who recently got ill.” I gently caress his cheek – I can see that he gets goosebumps from my ministrations. “But don't worry. I will reward you tomorrow night...” Leaning forward I whisper into his ear, “And I will keep rewarding you for the entire night.”

He shudders at the promise in my voice – a genuine promise. I will have to teach his body the pleasure of pleasing me.

“Please take a seat first... I have a gift for you....” he manages before I could leave.

I smile and sit down on the chair.

“Oh... I love gifts.” I say happily as I uncross my legs, giving the prince an unrestricted view of my naked flesh between my dress and my stockings. I smile as I see him licking his lips in anticipation. Delivering his promise and now gifts – I will have to make sure to show my appreciation, to make him more keen on pleasing me.

The boy gets up and retrieves a large box and puts it on the table in front of me.

“That's the first one...”

He says as he sits down in a chair beside me. I open the box and raise my eyebrow at the sight of shackles. I didn't suspect him to be into this kind of play, but I don't mind. I look at him with a small smile.

“Shackles huh...? Do you have some kinky fantasy about holding me captive..?” I ask playfully, feeling my face heating up. The scenarios already started to play in my mind.... maybe I could invite Ivette?

“Oh it's no fantasy... The second gift is a carriage that will take you to your old sultan.” He replies in a serious tone.

At his tone and the mention of the old sultan, the smile fades from my face. What was happening?

“Is that some kind of joke?” I shutter, unsure what is going on. The sight of his serious face unnerves me. Have I miscalculated greatly? Was I deceived by this boy?

“Tell me my slut... when I deliver you to the sultan, what would he do with you.” he asks.

I bite my lip nervously. He never called me a slut. Well, he did when we were fucking, but never with such a venom in his voice and outside of bed... I reply him, all traces of playfulness gone from my voice.

“I would be treated as a runaway ****... I would be publicly branded and flogged.... and depending on sultan's mood I could also be publicly humiliated, tortured or given to common people to be gang-**** by them."

I witnessed such situations and remember them all too well. I look away as images of dark-haired woman flashed before my eyes.

“Then I would be either sent to the quarries, where I wouldn't survive a month... or publicly executed.” I inhale deeply as I realize that fear is clear in my voice. I put a hand on my breast and slightly push my chest forward. “You can't be that cruel, to condemn me to such a fate... please...”

“Cruel Azar?” He replies with a venom in his voice. “My father rescued you from the life of a sex ****... took you into his house, gave you food and place to sleep. And you? After his ****, when his body was still warm you started to conspire against his family... against his blood. He saved you and you spat on his grave and betrayed his generosity. My father thought he was rescuing a woman from a life of slavery when in reality he took in a venomous snake into his house. No Azar, this is not cruel. This is just.”

He has never spoken to me with such an anger and hatred. The only time I heard him speak about some like that-

I swallow as the realization hits me.

He only spoke so about his mother and uncle.

He sits back and continues.

“You have two choices you can make now, Azar.

First option – you can refuse my offer, scream or run from this room. You will not manage to cross 20 meters before you will be captured and sent to the sultan... along with Ivette. Where you both will be branded, flogged, tortured and executed.

Second option – you will agree to my demands... Then you will get up, remove your dress and put your hands behind your back, so I can put on your chains. Then you will be presented to sultan as a gift from my kingdom... and then you will be branded, flogged, tortured and executed. But Ivette will survive. I promised her a noble title and I will keep my word. I will secure her living and her safety – but should you try something with the sultan, she will be paying the consequences with her life.”

He looked straight into my eyes as I sat there speechless.

“My father might have tolerated a snake in his house but I will not. You are already dead Azar, but you might save your daughter.”

I swallowed.

“Ivette will suspect you.” I say... but can't continue with 'so you will kill her anyway.' I can't speak about the possible **** of my daughter. Those words can't pass through my throat.

He smiled.

“You have me wrapped around your finger and I just gave you a safe house. No she will suspect the person you are meeting with – Lord Thrall, the supporter of Queen Freya, known to have betrayed others at least four time in the past. Add that he will be the one to deliver you to sultan...”

At the mention of Lord Thrall, I freeze.

He knew.

“No. Ivette will turn to only person she can trust for help – me. And she will be quite... **** to gain my favour. Her desperation will ensure her loyalty to me.”

He looked at me, and I shuddered as cold and fear spread through my body... because there was not an ounce of mercy in his eyes. He was going to send me to my ****, and should I defy him, my daughter would follow.

“Now, Azar, what will you do?” He asked with steel in his voice. The silence that hanged in the air, was like an executioner's sword that was about to fall.